Get relevant Bible training to inform your study of philosophy. Explore what is real, what we can know, how we should think, and how we should live. Be prepared for graduate study in any field.
Philosophy may be the right degree for you if you
- love to explore ideas
- want to communicate ideas that matter
- enjoy learning about issues and finding creative solutions
- want to boost your skills in communication and analysis
Why study philosophy at Northwestern?
Examine philosophy through the lens of theology from Christian philosophers who think deeper and want you to grow in your faith. Begin to see how everything exists in Christ. “For in Christ all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible … He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:16-17 NIV
Ideas are powerful. At UNW, you’ll learn to evaluate and communicate them effectively by exploring connections. You’ll discern how to respond to important ethical issues facing our world today.
A philosophy degree has exceptional earning potential. Employers value creative problem-solving and analytical abilities. Studying philosophy will help you excel in these skills.
4 main areas of philosophy
Enjoy thought-provoking discussions as you learn more about philosophy:
- Ethics (how we should live)
- Metaphysics (the nature of reality)
- Logic (rules for reasoning)
- Epistemology (the nature of knowledge)
Study philosophers from ancient times to the present.
Opportunities to grow
This is the place to:
- Work with faculty on research projects
- Share your insights by presenting at a conference
- Participate in monthly science & theology chapels
- Consider adding a minor of your choice
- Apply for Northwestern’s prestigious Eagle Scholars honors program for high-achieving students
- Take assessments to discover your God-given personality, strengths and values
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One of the most important lectures that I remember was why philosophy is important… I've talked about metaphysics with a pizza delivery guy, I've talked about theism with agnostics, I've talked about the nature of reality with atheists. The encouragement and teaching of UNW philosophy professors have really made an impression on me. I now try to do the same with others.
Philosophy is essential to a solid education—not always for its immediate practicality, but for the way it forms and strengthens the mind. Throughout my four years studying philosophy at Northwestern, I’ve grown immensely in my ability to construct, analyze, and articulate arguments, often using philosophical principles to pursue aspirations in other disciplinary fields. Truly, philosophy has shaped me in incalculable ways, and I highly recommend it to anyone seeking to refine their thinking skills and deepen their understanding of the world.
Philosophy is the study of the wisdom that guides us. In my time at UNW, I have been studying the ways that philosophy and theology have shaped how peoples and societies think and act. I am doing this both in my classes and on my own, since I am interested in the historical application of both fields. Philosophy touches every field.
Careers in philosophy
A degree in philosophy will benefit you in any career.
What types of work are related to this degree?
- Consulting
- Teaching (additional education may be needed)
- Research
- Administration
- Academic affairs
- Foreign service
- Library sciences
- Law enforcement
- Bioethics
- Environmental ethics or policy
- Law-related pursuits
- Politics
- Legislative, executive, or judicial services
- Public policy/analysis
What will I learn?
You will develop valuable skills in creative problem-solving, think deeper, and analyze key concepts.
PHI 2016
Ethics
A comparative introduction to normative social theory. An examination and critique of alternative grounds for claiming that an action, attitude, social rule, or social institution is morally right or wrong.
PHI 2006
Fundamentals of Logic
In this course students learn the basic principles of propositional and first-order logic. Emphasis is on developing understanding and skill in constructing valid deductive arguments and recognizing fallacious reasoning. Informal and inductive logic will also be introduced with a survey of common informal fallacies.
LIN 2226
Introduction to Linguistics
A study of the basic concepts of language and the history of English. Includes phonetics, phonology, morphology, semantics and syntax.
PHI 3035
Metaphysics
This course surveys metaphysics as the study of the nature of reality and is concerned with identifying and understanding the fundamentally distinct sorts of things that exist such as properties, relations, time, causality, freedom, mind, numbers, sets and possible worlds. The course attempts to relate these things to the doctrine of creation and to the dynamics of God’s acting according to his plan for his purposes in Christ. This is a course in worldview integration for those majoring in physical and social science, mathematics, or in any of the humanities.
PHI 3025
God and Philosophy
This course is a critical examination of historical and contemporary views on several philosophical problems addressed by Christians and those in other monotheistic religions for centuries. These include such questions as the following: Does God know the future? How could God be absolutely sovereign and people be free? Since there is evil, what sense can be made of the claim that “God is good”?
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Discover the Department of Biblical & Theological Studies
Professors at Northwestern are focused on their students first. Our faculty include experts in their respective fields who want to help you grow in your faith while you earn your degree.
